Transportation to and from Kathmandu Valley could remain disrupted until Dashain after recent floods and landslides damaged several major highways. With around a month remaining before the festival, transport entrepreneurs have warned that travel could become difficult this year due to problems along the Prithvi Highway and other major roads connecting Kathmandu.

The Prithvi Highway was disrupted by flooding on Bhadra 10. Four days later, water accumulated in the Lende Khola in Rasuwa suddenly flowed downstream, damaging sections of the road in areas including Krishnabhir and Parewabhir in Dhading.

Vehicles are currently operating through alternative routes, while authorities are working to open a new track at Krishnabhir. The Department of Roads and the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Development have accelerated work involving slope management, soil cutting and track construction.

Ten machines and pieces of equipment have been deployed, with workers operating for more than 12 hours a day to reopen the road as quickly as possible.

Transport operators say the highway disruption has sharply reduced the number of buses leaving Kathmandu. According to Dadhiram Kharel, chairman of West Nepal Bus Byabasayi Pvt. Ltd., around 160 buses normally depart Kathmandu daily, but the number has fallen to approximately 20.

Because alternative roads remain difficult, only passengers with urgent needs are traveling by road. Long traffic jams and uncertainty have also pushed some passengers toward air travel.

Alternative Routes Based on Vehicle Type

Following the blockage at Krishnabhir on the Prithvi Highway, traffic pressure has increased on alternative routes through Hetauda. The District Administration Office in Makwanpur has instructed vehicles to use different routes depending on their type and capacity.

Cargo vehicles and large passenger vehicles with up to 10 wheels have been instructed to use the Tribhuvan Highway when traveling toward Kathmandu and the Kanti Highway when returning. Smaller passenger vehicles with fewer than 14 seats have been directed to use the Pharping–Phakhel–Kulekhani–Bhimphedi route toward Hetauda and the Bhimphedi–Kulekhani–Sisneri–Dakshinkali route toward Kathmandu.

Heavy cargo and fuel vehicles have been advised not to use the Bailey Bridge near Trikhandi because of its limited load-bearing capacity and instead use a nearby diversion. Although buses up to 11 meters long are permitted on alternative routes, operators have reported difficulties at narrow turns.

Concerns Over Dashain Travel

Punya Prasad Sitoula, chairman of the Nepal Transport Entrepreneurs' National Federation, said both passengers and transport businesses have been affected by the closure of the Prithvi Highway. Large vehicles operating on long-distance east–west routes have been among the worst affected.

Transport operators say their businesses have nearly come to a standstill while banks and financial institutions have continued to demand installment payments. Advance Dashain ticket bookings normally open around 15 days before the festival, but operators say it is currently difficult even to plan the ticketing schedule.

Most roads leading out of Kathmandu Valley have reportedly been affected to some extent. While around 3,000 small and large vehicles normally leave the valley each day, transport representatives estimate that only around 500 are currently operating.

Department of Roads Targets Two-Way Operation Within a Week

The Department of Roads has accelerated efforts to restore two-way traffic along the Prithvi Highway. Sajana Adhikari, project chief of the western section of the Nagdhunga–Muglin Road Project, said work is being carried out with a target of restoring two-way traffic within about a week.

Authorities expect transportation to become easier after a week if weather conditions remain favorable. Krishnabhir is a historically landslide-prone area, and landslide prevention measures have also been initiated after cracks appeared in the upper section of the ground during track construction.

The road section from Naubise to Malekhu is also reported to be operating relatively smoothly, although a dry landslide at Thakre temporarily disrupted traffic for about an hour.